, 1887-07-27
P R 0 G E E D | N G s
DMs TEE
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR ST. CRo11.
(Conclas;on Of the Meeting ofl1th July 1887.

OAbbElcb (H0pH00tIs bSlu buab Ao :" VA
been in favor of corpse inspection, as 1t was
horrid to think of q corpse being buried IL
hours after death, but as there now existed
great differences of opinion as to how she
matter should be arranged, he would SUCCESS
that each manager should attest deaths on
his own estate, except in suspicious cases
when the necessary authority should Do
called. What did planters know about the
signs Of death ? The party might for all ne
knew, only be in a trance. Onlya physician
could give a reliable and responsible cerSn'
cate OF death.
The Chairman meant that honorable MEM
berg had apparently misunderstood the mean
ing Of the certificate OF inspection. Ine
blanks would contain q number OF questions
to be answered by the inspectors as to certain
signs found on the body, indicative OF death.
Is would merely be to answer "yes or no
to these questions. This would however
necessitate che knowledge OF reading ana
writing and q more enlightened intellect than
could Be expected to be found in q labouring
man from the country. He considered 1t q
great shame that these measures had not
been introduced long ago, but he would THINK
10 O vet greater shame, If the Council should
throw out the present Draft.
and Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (SvitSey) failed to see how any certl-
6cate Of death but one issued by a physlclan
could be reliable. In cases of sudden DEATH
then cause an inspection to be made by the
Police and physician.
Bird Member for Christiansted's Country
District (Lesvy) would say that it was not
the intention of the planters to throw the
Draft out, but that the Objectionable clause
which they commended, was the compulslon
that it established on them. What the hon
CRADLE Ath Member for Ch~ristiansted's Country
District RaphaeD had suggested would IN
fact be q corpse-inspection. The burden hat
the present Draft lays upon the planters is
very great. As it is now, messengers
have 60 be found to report occurring deaths
on estates, to cthe7Police and the clergy
mon; L there would now furthermore be
q messenger required to send for the other
inspector. 8 This would have to be done
at the instance of the family concerned or by
the estate. In either case it was an expense
which could be avoided.
9Th Member for C~hristiansted's Country
District raphael meant that it would be q
very delicate matter for one planter to go on
an others estate for the purpose of inspect
Ing corpses. He could not deem it correct
and no planter would like to do it.
And Member for Christiansted's Town Dis.
triot (LemmiHg) would ask the honorable Mem
Der fhe had read the remarks ad s 8, for if 80,
he would see that they met his views, IN
prescribing that q planter shall only inspect
on his own estate. The planters would also re-
ceivesprinted blanks to be filled out by them,
and on the whole, by a printed guide, be
instructed how to act in all cases when sus-
pioious deaths or deaths by suicide occur.
The duty was not an onerous one. In the
towns all cases would be undertaken by the
physician and paid for, because no travelling
expenses would be entailed. It would also be
good for the country, but would be an expen-
sivs measure. He would therefore recon-
mend the Committees Report for acceptance
by si1s OouDcil.
and. Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (S,oitser) thought it could be an easy
matter for those officials who were paid q sala-
~ for keeping horses to undertake the inspec-
tion OF corpses, in the Country. The planters
had hitherto always conscientiouslY assisted
she authorities with Reports Of deaths. but
Co make it, as in this csse obligatory, he
thoughs rather arhtra&y.
Ord Member for Frederiksted Country Dis.
arict (HesoittJ thought that it would be good
20 give the teachers of the Country Schools a
small fee to attend to the corpse inspection:
They together with the Police could act,
The Policemen had really not much to do,
Why throw the burden upon. one part of the
community?
whist Grown Member (Qs;m) said that al.